Connector structure



A. E. ZINGONE CONNECTOR STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24, 1953 INVENTOR 4/vr/m/w' 5 Z/NG awe BY wdc ATTO R N EYS 13, E Z N CONNECTOR STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 24, 1953 INVENTO'R I 4vm0/v/ E Zmeawe Wd M ATTORNEYS United States Patent CONNECTOR STRUCTURE Anthony E. Zingone, Massapequa, N. Y., assignor to Neo- Ray Products, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 24, 1953, Serial No. 363,743

4 Claims. (Cl. 248-417) This invention relates generally to connector structures.

An object of the invention is to provide a connector structure for associated parts which permits of the convenient adjustment of one of the parts with reference to the other and which also permits of the convenient release of the parts from the connector structure for removal thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a connector structure including a link structure having an enveloping spring means which retains the link structure in tensioned elongated relation and in connected relation with the associated parts and which permits of the convenient release of the parts from the link structure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a connector structure for a lighting fixture which is constructed to permit of the convenient displacement of the light transmitting panel for gaining access to the interior of the fixture for cleaning the same or for replacing the light bulbs or other parts thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a connector structure for connecting the light transmitting panel with the housing of a lighting fixture for endwise and sidewise movement thereof so as to adjust the panel in position covering the bottom of the housing and for movement of the panel to a dependent relation for cleaning the fixture and replacing parts thereof.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, reference is now made to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view through a ceiling lighting fixture showing the panel connected with the housing thereof by means of connector structures constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on line 2--2 of Fig. l with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on line $-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken approximately on line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken approximately on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged plan view of one of the connector structures showing the coil spring in section and a portion of the chain broken away.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the connector structure is primarily adapted for use in connection with a ceiling lighting fixture for connecting the light transmitting panel with the housing thereof for movement of the light transmitting panel from covering relation with the housing to a dependent relation therewith for gaining access to the housing for cleaning the same or for replacing light bulbs or other parts thereof.

The lighting fixture may be of any preferred type and as illustrated, the same is adapted to be inserted in an ice opening 9 in a ceiling and supported. in position therein by any desired means such as by clamps 10 which are impinged against angle bars 11 bordering the opening. The housing 12 of the fixture is set into the opening 9 with the open bottom of the housing disposed substantially flush with the ceiling 13.

The housing 12 is of generally elongated construction for receiving one or more light transmitting panels 14 in covering relation with the bottom of the housing and for supporting the panel in position covering the open bottom, the housing is provided with longitudinally extending strips 15 which extend outwardly at each side in covering relation with the ceiling adjacent the opening and which project inwardly to provide oppositely disposed longitudinally extending ledges on which the opposite longitudinal edges of the panels are supported with the adjacent ends of the panels disposed in abutting engagement.

The panels are of rectangular formation and are mounted in rectangular frames, each consisting of longitudinally extending side members 17 and end members 18. The side members 17 are of angulated formation in cross-section each including a longitudinally extending upright wall 19 having an inwardly directed bottom flange 2t) and an inwardly and upwardly directed upper flange 21. The end members 18 are connected with the up wardly directed flanges 21 by angulated brackets 22 so as to dispose the end members 18 above the side members 17 and in bridging relation above the panels. The panels are mounted upon the bottom flanges 2t) and are secured thereto against endwise movement by tongues 23 secured to the ends of the upright walls 19 and extending inwardly therefrom in overlying relation with the ends of the panels.

The panels are swingably connected with the housing 12 by connector structures located adjacent the ends thereof. Each of the connector structures includes a link structure 26 consisting of a plurality of links connected together in end to end relation with the endmost links releasably connected with end coupling members 27 and 28 respectively. The end member 27 consists of a fiat metal strip provided with an opening 29 adjacent the outer end thereof for receiving a pin 30 for pivotally connecting the hinge structure with one of the angle brackets 22. The said end member is provided with an offset inner end portion 31 which is. reduced in width and is formed with a slot 32 which extends inwardly from one edge thereof and terminates in an offset inner end portion 33 extending toward the inner end thereof with the center of the offset portion 33 located at one side of the longitudinal center line through said member. The end member 28 consists of a flat metal strip having a rounded head 35 provided with an opening 36 which is located with the center thereof disposed at one side of the longitudinal center line through said member and which opening extends through one edge thereof in the form of a slot 38. The end member 28 is also formed with a slot 39 similar to the slot 32 in the end member 27 and which terminates in an offset inner end portion 40 located at one side of the longitudinal center line through said member and on the opposite side thereof from the opening 36 in the head 35.

The endmost links of the link structure 26 engage the otfset end portions 33 and 40 of the slots 32 and 39 of the end members 27 and 28 for connecting the link structure together and for the purpose of retaining the link structure in elongated tensioned relation and to prevent unintentional or accidental disengagement of the endmost links from the end members 27 and 28, a coil spring 43 is interposed between the head 35 of the end member 28 and the outer end of the end member 27 and in surrounding relation with the links thereof. The head coil spring 43 is tensioncd while the offset portion 31 provides a shoulder 45 against which the opposite end of the spring is tensioncd. This disposes the coil spring in covering relation with the slots 32 and 38 to prevent release of the endmost links of the chain and in covering relation with the .slot 38 to prevent disengagement of the end member 28 from connected relation with the housing.

The longitudinally extending side wall 48 of the housing is formed with upper and lower parallel slots 49 and 50 so as to define a cross bar 51 therebetween, the upper slot being larger than the lower slot for receiving the head 35 so as to latch the end member 28 to the housing with the cross bar 51 extending through the opening 36 in the head.

It is to be understood that one such link structure 26 is pivotally connected with each of the end members 18 for supporting the ends of each of the panels and which link structure permits of the endwise shifting of the panel to dispose adjacent panels in abutting relation and also permits of sidewise movement of the panel for freeing the same from the flanges 20 for disposing the panel in dependent relation. The coil spring 43 may also be manually contracted to permit of disconnecting the end member 28 of each of the link structures from the housing, and if desired, for disconnecting the end members from the chain so as to release the panels from the hous- The links of the link structure 26 intermediate the end members 27 and 28 preferably consist of links of a chain as illustrated so as to provide the desired flexibility in the hinge structure.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification, it is to be understood that the invention is not so limited and is intended to cover and include any and all forms and modifications thereof which fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a connector structure for connecting two members together, a link structure including end members and a plurality of links flexibly connected in chain formation, one of the end members having an aperture for pivotally connecting said end member to one of said first mentioned members and the other end member having an opening providing a hooked end for engagement with the other of said first mentioned members, said end members having reduced inner ends providing shoulders, and a coiled spring surrounding the links and the reduced ends of said end members and tensioncd against the shoulders thereof for maintaining the link structure in tensioncd elongated relation.

2. In a connector structure for connecting two members together, a link structure including end members and a plurality of links flexibly connected together in chain formation, one of said end members being apertured for pivotally connecting said end member to one of said first mentioned members and said end members having an opening provided with an offset inner end for receiving one of the endmost links for connecting the said end member therewith, and the other end member having an opening providing a hooked end for engagement with the other of the first mentioned members and said last mentioned end member having an opening provided with an oifset inner end for receiving the other endmost link for connecting said end member therewith, said end members having reduced inner ends providing shoulders, and a coiled spring surrounding the links and the inner ends of said end members so as to cover said openings to thereby prevent disengagement of the end members with the links and disengagement of the hooked end with the member, and said coiled spring tensioning said hinge structure for maintaining the link structure in tensioncd elongated relation.

3. In a connector structure for connecting two members together, a link structure including end members and a chain consisting of a plurality of links flexibly connected together in chain formation, said end members having openings provided with ofifset inner portions for receiving the endmost links for releasably connecting the end members therewith, one of said end members having an offset apertured end for pivotally connecting said end member to one of said first mentioned members and the other end melnber having an opening providing a hooked end for engagement with the other of the first mentioned members, said end members having reduced inner ends providing shoulders, and a coil spring surrounding the links and the inner ends of said end members and tensioned against said shoulders so as to maintain the link structure intensioned elongated relation and covering said openings to thereby prevent disengagement of the end members with the links and disengagement of the hooked end.

4. In a connector structure for connecting two members together, a link structure including end members and a chain consisting of a plurality of links flexibly connected together in chain formation, said end members having openings provided with offset inner portions for receiving the endmost links for releasably connecting the end members therewith, one of said end members having an offset apertured end for pivotally connecting said end member to one of said first mentioned members and the other end member having an opening providing a hooked end for engagement with the other of the first mentioned members, and a coil spring surrounding the links and the inner ends of said end members so as to maintain the link structure in tensioncd elongated relation and covering said openings to thereby prevent disengagement of the end members with the links and disengagement of the hooked end.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 407,566 Ballou July 23, 1889 1,105,925 Reynolds Aug. 4, 1914 1,850,639 Sioberg Mar. 22. 1932 

